Professional Development Days
Professional Development (PD) Days are offered as part of a suite of programming supporting career management and professional development for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The sessions will help you recognize your talents, pursue your interests, learn professional skills and make interdisciplinary connections that will help you excel in your chosen field.
The next workshops will be hosted from May 6 - 10, 2024. Full details and registration information are posted below (all times are in MST).
Note that we have a leadership series, and career management and communications sessions embedded in the week. The Building a New Mindset Around Writing session is cohosted with the Writing Centre as part of their Revitalize Your Thesis 2024: graduate student writing retreat.
Where indicated, these sessions may be used towards the University of Alberta Professional Development Requirement which includes an individualized career plan document called an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and the completion of eight hours of professional development activities inspired by your career plan.
The IDP outlines seven competencies. You will find IDP competency information in some of the workshop descriptions to help you determine which workshop will expand your desired skill areas.
Please note:
- Please register early for these workshops, as spots may be limited.
- Students who are on leave are not able to use the sessions for PD credit, however are certainly permitted to attend the sessions which are open to everyone on campus.
- In keeping with our standard practice, attendees later than 10 minutes will not be admitted to the sessions.
- PD credit is only given to participants who attend the entire session and participate in the activities related to the sessions. This may include polling, a pre-activity survey, completing a google form, and so forth that can take place prior to, during, or post-event.
Learning Outcomes
- Reflect upon and evaluate your skills and competencies in the areas of creativity, communication, confidence, scholarship, ethical responsibility, critical thinking, and collaboration.
- Reflect on your career options based on your interests, skills, and values.
- Acquire new, or enhance existing skills and competencies in areas related to professional behaviours, the workplace, and career management.
Learn More + Register
Programming, registration, and tracking is captured in campusBridge.
Guide to campusBridge: Registration and Proof of Attendance
In-Person Sessions
IN PERSON | May 6, 2024 | 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. | ECHA 2-190
Description
In this session, we will discuss why EDI work is important, and should be rooted in lived experiences and positionality. Using personal and professional stories, Dr. Lisa Tink will discuss how she came to work in the area of EDI and share thoughts and insights about what EDI is, what EDI isn’t, and what it could/should be. Throughout the session, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own lived experiences and discuss the ways these experiences have shaped, and continue to shape, their own understandings and practices.
Facilitators
Lisa Tink, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate working in both the Vice Provost’s Office (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) and the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. She is one of two curriculum designers working on the University of Alberta’s EDI modules. She is also a member of a national research collective that offers intersectional and justice-oriented solutions intended to disrupt and transform harmful systems, structures, policies, and norms in the areas of sport, recreation, physical activity, and other movement cultures. Her doctoral dissertation was recently published as a book titled Fit to be Canadian? The Recreation Industrial Complex in Canada. Prior to returning to academics, Lisa worked as a director in the Government of Alberta’s Recreation and Physical Activity Division and a manager at the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. Lisa is also the director of In Situ Change Strategies – a participatory consulting firm that provides research and evaluation services to inform meaningful action.
Jay Friesen, PhD, is an Educational Curriculum Developer at the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and an Assistant Lecturer in Community Engagement at Community Service-Learning at the University of Alberta. He received his PhD in Cultural Studies (MLCS) from the same institution in 2019, where his research focused on the relationship between comedy and multiculturalism in Canadian communities. Jay has taught diverse courses on a wide variety of topics, including community engagement, cultural studies, and pedagogy, and is particularly interested in making post-secondary learning accessible and equitable, especially through university and community collaborations. He is a two-time recipient of the CSL Instructor of the Year award, once as a graduate student and once as an ATS lecturer.
IN PERSON | May 6, 2024 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | ECHA 2-190
Description
Leadership begins with self. What kind of leader are you? Does this matter? What makes a good leader? How can you build your leadership acumen? Join us in a conversation about leadership styles, determine what are your tendencies, and gain a better sense of what matters when it comes to leadership of self.
Facilitator
Dr. Renee Polziehn is the Professional Development Director for the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Following 20+ years of leading professional development programming for the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office, she has heard many of the challenges faced by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as they transition from their graduate degrees to the workplace. Renee is part of the executive leadership in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and has been recognized nationally for the programming offered to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
IN PERSON | May 6, 2024 | 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. | ECHA 2-190
Description
Once you have a good handle on how you respond and interact with others and to events, you will want to add the next dimension of learning about others. How are people similar and different from you? What dynamics can come into play so that you can be successful in leading? We will examine how people learn as a tool for understanding how leadership is received by others and how this can impact team dynamics.
Facilitator
Dr. Renee Polziehn is the Professional Development Director for the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Following 20+ years of leading professional development programming for the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office, she has heard many of the challenges faced by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as they transition from their graduate degrees to the workplace. Renee is part of the executive leadership in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and has been recognized nationally for the programming offered to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
IN PERSON | May 6, 2024 | 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. | ECHA 2-190
Description
You may spend a part - even a good part - of your career working in positions outside of formal leadership. But that doesn't prevent you from leading projects that are innovative and inspiring. Indeed, working on the front lines often gives you special insight into the kinds of initiatives that will benefit those you serve.
Facilitator
Robert B. (Rob) Desjardins, PhD is a professional development instructional designer in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. A U of A alumnus and seasoned communicator (MJ Carleton 1994; PhD Alberta 2010), Rob has spent nearly 14 years supporting and advocating for graduate students, including a decade as graduate writing advisor in the Academic Success Centre. He is also an active researcher in the field of late medieval cultural history, and is co-editor of The Arras Witch Treatises (Penn State, 2016) and the Lab Award-winning exhibition "Tinctor's Foul Treatise" (Bruce Peel Special Collections).
IN PERSON | May 7, 2024 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | ECHA 2-490
Are you uncomfortable speaking about your research to non-specialist audiences? Help is on the way. In this 90-minute conversation, three experienced research presenters (and Falling Walls Lab Edmonton finalists) tackle some of the most pressing questions facing public speakers. These may include:
- How do I overcome nerves?
- How do I engage the audience in my topic?
- How do I keep things simple, clear and relatable?
- How do I handle unexpected questions?
- How do I leave my audience enthusiastic and curious to know more?
Join us for a lively and candid conversation that may just inspire you.
IN PERSON | May 7, 2024 | 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. | ECHA 1-490
IN PERSON | May 7, 2024 | 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. | ECHA 1-490
Repeat Session
Description
Leadership within teams has many nuances. During this fun, interactive workshop we will use LEGO to explore the facets of what makes a good team. We will explore the questions of how to create a productive team environment and how your sense-of-self contributes to this dynamic.
Facilitator
Dr. Renee Polziehn is the Professional Development Director for the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Following 20+ years of leading professional development programming for the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office, she has heard many of the challenges faced by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as they transition from their graduate degrees to the workplace. Renee is part of the executive leadership in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and has been recognized nationally for the programming offered to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Jay Friesen, PhD, is an Educational Curriculum Developer at the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and an Assistant Lecturer in Community Engagement at Community Service-Learning at the University of Alberta. He received his PhD in Cultural Studies (MLCS) from the same institution in 2019, where his research focused on the relationship between comedy and multiculturalism in Canadian communities. Jay has taught diverse courses on a wide variety of topics, including community engagement, cultural studies, and pedagogy, and is particularly interested in making post-secondary learning accessible and equitable, especially through university and community collaborations. He is a two-time recipient of the CSL Instructor of the Year award, once as a graduate student and once as an ATS lecturer.
Robert B. (Rob) Desjardins, PhD, is a professional development instructional designer in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. A U of A alumnus and seasoned communicator (MJ Carleton 1994; PhD Alberta 2010), Rob has spent nearly 14 years supporting and advocating for graduate students, including a decade as graduate writing advisor in the Academic Success Centre. He is also an active researcher in the field of late medieval cultural history, and is co-editor of The Arras Witch Treatises (Penn State, 2016) and the Lab Award-winning exhibition "Tinctor's Foul Treatise" (Bruce Peel Special Collections).
IN PERSON | May 8, 2024 | 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. | SAB 3-21
Description
As we prepare to move out of the academy and into the work force, it's a good time to think critically about our writing style. Is it vague and ponderous? Can we make it more accessible for people in the office and on the job?
In this workshop, we share a few principles (and some back-pocket strategies) to help you balance clarity and professionalism in your business writing.
Facilitator
Robert B. (Rob) Desjardins, PhD, is a professional development instructional designer in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. A U of A alumnus and seasoned communicator (MJ Carleton 1994; PhD Alberta 2010), Rob has spent nearly 14 years supporting and advocating for graduate students, including a decade as graduate writing advisor in the Academic Success Centre. He is also an active researcher in the field of late medieval cultural history, and is co-editor of The Arras Witch Treatises (Penn State, 2016) and the Lab Award-winning exhibition "Tinctor's Foul Treatise" (Bruce Peel Special Collections).
Virtual Sessions - Zoom Connection
Virtual | May 8, 2024 | 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. | Zoom Link
Description
The Career Centre staff have been exploring generative AI tools to see how useful they can be in the job search, job application and interviewing process. Given the career exploration falls outside of the academic arena, there is more flexibility in how people are using these tools. Come join this panel to learn from their experiences.
Presenters
Various members of the Career Centre - from GSIP, Graduate and Postdoctoral Student Advisors, and Career Advisors will join this panel to provide their expertise on the use of generative AI tools in the career management domain.
Virtual | May 8, 2024 | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. | Zoom Link
Description
For most people, participating in job interviews is not a common activity. Preparing for them can feel like a daunting task. What are employers expecting? What will they ask? What can you do to prepare for your next interview? We will share some tips to help you ace your next interview.
Presenters
The session will be hosted by Dr. Renee Polziehn, Director of Professional Development for the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, and a panel of Career Centre staff that could include Marek Komar - T2C Career Coach, Andrea Spevak - GSIP Internship Advisor, and James Kuang - Career Advisor.
Virtual | May 8, 2024 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Zoom Link
Description
May - a perfect month to check on your overall well-being. In this session, you will take a step back and examine your career trajectory from a holistic perspective. We will share a practical tool to assess where you are focussing your energy and help identify how to better balance your life. You will leave with a greater understanding of your interests and hidden strengths, and how you might incorporate more of these aspects into your daily life.
Facilitator
Andrea Spevak is the Internship Advisor for the Graduate Student Internship Program. Since 2016 she has helped more than 700 U of A grad students from all disciplines find internships. Andrea works with a variety of companies and organizations, from government to industry to not-for-profit, and has a diverse background across many roles, including Research Manager, Entrepreneur, Program Coordinator with the Federal government, and ESL instructor.
Navita Kalra is the Career Advisor for the Graduate Student Internship Program. She has supported students from all disciplines in finding work experience opportunities since joining the Career Centre. As a Career Advisor, Navita helps graduate students with their internship applications and interviews - including assisting them in creating their own internships.
Virtual | May 9, 2024 | 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. | Zoom Link
Description
Writing is one of the hardest and most important aspects of graduate studies. Do you feel anxious about your writing process? Do you think you ought to be more proficient than you are? Do you wonder what strong academic writing looks like? Do you feel isolated in your academic writing pursuits?
In this 90-minute workshop, acclaimed writing scholar Rachael Cayley explores strategies for building a new mindset around writing. She explains how common attitudes toward academic writing can be transformed into new attitudes that better support a healthy writing process.
Facilitator
Dr. Rachael Cayley, University of Toronto